Solar firm to build 139 MW PV project in US

A US solar firm is to build a 139 MW PV project in California. Arizona firm First Solar will develop the Campo Verde solar farm near El Centro in Imperial County, which will begin construction in Autumn this year.

Thin film PV modules will be used to construct the solar farm, which is scheduled for completion in 2013. The solar farm will power approximately 50,000 California homes for 20 years, which will displace 80,000 metric tonnes of CO2 per year.

San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) will power the solar farm under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

Brian Kunz, vice president of Project Development at First Solar, said: "First Solar is very pleased to be working with SDG&E for the first time to deliver clean, renewable energy and create hundreds of construction jobs in Imperial County."

The news is another boost for solar power in California. It comes after US companies Bechtel and Unirac announced their cooperation on the 110 MW AC Catalina solar PV project in Kern County in Southern California last month.